African American and Italian born, Kelsy was brought up in a household of craftsmen. Learning to sew at the age of nine she quickly graduated from making pillowcases to beautiful dresses.

Creativity and appreciation for genuine craftsmanship can all be credited to her ancestry line of entrepreneurs.

From her Italian side, Great Aunt Bessy curated some of the most exquisite gowns for her clientele of “little Italy” Belleville New Jersey. On a machine from 1914 that Kelsy still holds in her studio, Aunt Bessy made sketches come alive. The key to her craft as has been told through generations as was her dedication to detail. Perfection in every stitch.

Gifted from her African American side, her grandmother owned a business reupholstering chairs and couches. Though this was her main purpose of business, this did not keep her from creating clothing for all of her 11 children. Passed through generations, grandmother Lucille instilled the skill of the machine to Kelsy’s mother who then passed the dying art to her kin.

DiDomenico’s mission is to carry on the craftsmanship that has been so long forgotten in a sea of mass produced thoughts. There is no one way of thinking, therefore there should not be one way to design!

Through traveling the world Kelsy has seen the importance of calling attention to the differences that unite us all. In continuing to explore the world, she now backpacks with her century old Singer machine and visually documents where she has visited, as she will continue to do for many years to come. Follow her journey here.

If you are planning a wedding in Roanoke Virginia,Richmond Virginia, Fredericksburg/Northern Virginia, The Shenandoah Valley, Coastal Virginia or in Charlottesville Va, we can help with your wedding planning and ideas.

The number of couples entering into premarital agreements has surged in recent years, and Millennials are leading the charge.

Prenuptial agreements once had a negative stigma attached to them. In the old days, prenups protected the party with the most money, which often was the man and fostered resentment and fear within the marriage. However, the number of couples signing a premarital agreement before tying the knot has skyrocketed in recent years. These days, the stigma of entering into a prenup is ancient history, thanks in part to the many Millennials who have viewed the idea of a prenup as a smart business/life move.

According to a recent survey taken by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), 62% of divorce attorneys reported seeing an increase in the total number of clients seeking prenuptial agreements before marriage in recent years. Notably, more than half of the matrimonial attorneys who responded to the AAML survey also reported an increase in the number of Millennials requesting prenuptial agreements. (SOURCE: American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.) Millennials in particular are choosing premarital agreements as the preferred option to protect separate property holdings, business interests, and to avoid potential alimony disputes.

There is a longstanding misconception that prenups are only for wealthy individuals seeking to avoid alimony. The Millennial generation is shifting the paradigm and finding that prenuptial agreements are valuable for most income levels, especially if either spouse has school loans, business debt, or been married previously. Many Millennials have realized that a prenup is an opportunity to pre-negotiate and guarantee a minimum/maximum amount of alimony. They tackle the agreement as a team as part of their wedding planning and get married with confidence.

Why have Millennials embraced prenups more readily than past generations?

Since there is no way to ask every couple why they signed their premarital agreement, we can only make educated guesses as to what caused the rise of the Millennial Prenup. It is possible that some relevant characteristics that are unique to Millennials (born 1981-96) have contributed to their generation’s embrace of premarital agreements.

Millennials are getting married later than previous generations. In 1965, the average American woman first married at age 21 and the typical American man wed at 23. By 2017, those figures climbed to 27 for women and age 29.5 for men. (SOURCE: Pew Research Center, How Millennials today compare with their grandparents 50 years ago, March 16, 2018.) Because they are marrying later in life, Millennials have had the opportunity to accumulate more assets (savings/retirement accounts, car, etc.). According to the AAML survey, the most common item covered in recent prenuptial agreements was “protection of separate property.” (SOURCE: American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.) That result suggests that Millennials have worked hard to accumulate their assets and savings during their single years, and they want the protection for their property during their married years that a prenup can provide.

As a generation, today’s Millennials are much better educated than their grandparents. Women have certainly made gains in educational attainment, and are now more likely than men to have a bachelor’s degree. Women are also outpacing men in attaining advanced post-graduate degrees, and these gains have contributed to their progress in the workforce at large. (SOURCE: Pew Research Center, For Women’s History Month, a look at gender gains – and gaps – in the U.S., March 15, 2018.) Perhaps it should come as no surprise that, according to the AAML, more and more women have been requesting prenups in recent years.

For many Millennials, their higher education burdens them with debt in the form of student loans, often with jaw-dropping balances by the time they graduate. The increased student loan debt that burdens the Millennial generation may also be prompting partners to enter into premarital agreements. Because they are marrying later in life, Millennials have had the opportunity to accumulate more debt (car loans, mortgages, student loans, etc.), and life just gets more complicated as we age. If one spouse has significantly more debt than the other, a prenup can insulate the debt-free spouse from the other’s debt if the marriage ends in divorce.

Some experts theorize that Millennials have more doubts about the longevity of marriage in general. Why would Millennials evaluate the traditional pledge of “till death do us part” with more skepticism than generations past? Maybe it’s because Millennials have had more exposure to divorce and its consequences than any previous generation. Only 62% of members of the Millennial generation were raised by both parents, whereas 85% of Boomers (born 1946-64) were raised by both parents. (SOURCE: Pew Research Center, Missing Mom or Dad, March 22, 2010.) Millennials have experienced divorce through their family and friends at all-time high rates, and they aren’t naïve and want to protect against it. Maybe that also explains why this generation hasn’t exactly rushed to the altar.

Millennials are breaking the mold in many ways from former generations, including their more cautious (and often pragmatic) approach to entering the legal contract of marriage. No matter what has caused Millennial interest in premarital agreements to spike, it is likely that the shift in paradigm in favor of prenups will influence future generations. This prenup wedding trend that Millennials have ushered in may not be fun, sexy or romantic—but it sure is forward-thinking.

About the Author:

Jeffrey Weaver, Esq. is the founder of Prenup Pros®, a law firm based in Northern Virginia that only specializes in prenuptial agreements. Jeff has prepared contracts for clients since 1999 and through Prenup Pros he applies his expertise and experience to prepare prenuptial agreements for clients located in Virginia, Florida, New York and New Jersey.

Jeff formed Prenup Pros® to provide marrying couples access to affordable, easy-to-understand prenuptial agreements because he believes that all couples should at least consider a prenup. His belief derives from the fact the he personallyexperienced the benefits that a prenup can provide, and he has seen too many friends, family and colleagues suffer through contested divorces with devastating effects on the well-being of their children. When they decided to separate, Jeff and his ex-wife were grateful that the prenuptial agreement they had signed many years earlier pre-resolved the majority of things divorcing couples usually fight over and allowed them to focus on minimizing the impact of their separation on their son. Many years after their divorce, Jeff and his ex-wife enjoy a friendly and collaborative 50/50 co-parenting relationship centered around the best interests of their son. Both of them agree that having a prenuptial agreement to guide them through their divorce immediately set a tone of cooperation and collaboration that lasted throughout the divorce and continues to benefit all of them today.

Prenup Pros® currently offers prenuptial agreements to clients located in VA, FL, NY and NJ. For more information on the firm or to schedule a free consultation with a Prenup Pros attorney, go to PrenupPros.com.

DISCLAIMER: This article and its contents represent the opinions of the author only and (1) is not intended as a solicitation, (2) is not intended to convey or constitute legal advice, and (3) is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney. You should not act upon any such information without first seeking qualified professional counsel on your specific matter. The hiring of an attorney is an important decision that should not be based solely upon articles or advertisements.

Meet today’s beautiful Bride, Danielle! She met her groom, Dustin, in high school! He was in 9th grade and she was in 10th. “Since he was younger I didn’t really pay him any attention at first, but he didn’t give up and I’m so thankful for that because it brought us to where we are today,” she recalled. We are thankful too because we are excited to share their rustic wedding day with y’all!

With the wedding taking place in November, Danielle chose maroon and white for their color scheme.

Danielle’s uncles walked her down the aisle to see Dustin for the first time.

The stars aligned and they were pronounced man and wife!

Golden hour perfection !

Don’t they make a cute couple!

And check out the back of Danielle’s gown…stunning!

With a quick shoe change (#obsessed), it was time to party!

They danced all night with their 200 guests!

And ended the evening with a huge sparkler exit! Congratulations Dustin and Danielle!

From the Bride:

What was your favorite detail of the day? “My favorite part of the day was right before our sparkler exit. All of our friends and family were already mostly outside and we started to head out as well. Dustin stopped me and we danced together, alone in a big empty room for just a few minutes. It was like time stood still and we were able to take it all in. The fact that we were finally married, the fact that we had 200+ of our closest friends and family there just for us, etc.. It was such a beautiful, emotional moment and it’s one that I will always remember and one that will probably always be my favorite part of the day.”

What advice would you give to a bride to be? “The best advice I could give is to just slow down and take it all in. If something doesn’t go as planned, it’s OKAY! No one will know that something doesn’t go your way, other than you. Don’t let that ruin your day or down your mood. The most important thing is that you stand in front of your (soon to be) husband and say I do! As long as that is done, then nothing else matters in my opinion.”

Want to be featured on this weekly online blog? Just email us! Want to be featured in our printed magazine? Just email us! **Being on this online blog does not hinder or guarantee a wedding will be in the printed magazine, both are up to the discretion of the publisher, Angeline Frame. If your wedding has been chosen for print, she will reach out to you directly.** Thank you for following Virginia Bride Magazine! Stay tuned for more weddings and the best Bridal Shows in Virginia!

If you are planning a wedding in Roanoke Virginia, Richmond Virginia, Fredericksburg/Northern Virginia, The Shenandoah Valley, Coastal Virginia or in Charlottesville Va, we can help with your wedding planning and ideas.

You may have heard that we are gearing up to meet future couples, March 3, 2019 at:The Richmond Greater Virginia Bridal Show by Virginia Bride Magazine
with that in mind, I thought I’d put together some tips for choosing one of your most important vendors, the photographer.

1. Check out a Bridal Show! Especially this one!https://vabridemagazine.com/local-bridal-show-sublinks/bridal-registration/Shows like this are a great way to get ideas about anything and everything wedding related. You will meet top vendors that include photographers, venues, caterers, planners, bakers, designers, and so many more. You can literally plan your whole day at a single show. Not only that, vendors that participate in shows are serious professionals. You know you’re in good hands!​…and did I mention the swag and prizes?!
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2. Have your questions ready!

Do not hesitate to be forward. We are used to it and any professional should be able to answer those questions in detail. You should want to know (up front) things like:

-What equipment are you using?
-How long is the turnaround?
-Whats happens if you get hurt or sick and have to cancel? (this is a tough one for brides to hear, but we are human.)
​-How would you describe your style?
-What is the cost and options for that cost?
-Are you insured?
-How long do you keep files?

​3. Their PersonalityDo they seem like a people person? This is a great reason you should go to a bridal show and meet them in person or at least plan a coffee. You should know who you will be working with and more importantly, will they work with you and your guests. Beware the wallflowers…

​3. BudgetBe up front about your budget and expectations for that budget. You may have found a “good deal” but what does that entail? You don’t want to be in a situation where you sign your contract and then find out that price was only for coverage of the event and does not include digital copies or prints and products. So stick to your budget and be sure to read your contract and ask LOTS of questions about what you’re getting.

​3. Their WorkWhat do their images look like overall. Are they heavily edited and covered in filters? That “professional” may hide their lack of ability or poor quality with Photoshop and Lightroom. I’m a firm believer that your wedding images should NOT look like instagram posts. The color should be true and saturated. Images that have overly white or blown out backgrounds or are tinted in Sepia should be a red flag. Ask to see an entire wedding gallery, not just the highlight images on display. Are the shots creative and full of emotion or do things looked very posed? These are all things to keep in mind when choosing a photographer that is right for you.

I recently had the joy of returning to the Islander Resort after their re-opening following Hurricane Irma.

When Hurricane Irma ravaged the Florida Keys in October 2017, like many of the resorts, the Islander Resort in Islamorada sustained quite a bit of damage, however, it is more amazing and beautiful now than before, if that is possible.

As publisher of Virginia Bride Magazine, I have stayed at many resorts, but I have to admit that the Islander Resort is one of my absolute favs! It is one of those destinations that every time you return you feel as if you are coming home, and you never want to leave!

The resort overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, is surrounded by 24 lushly landscaped acres, and offers 114 guest rooms and suites.

When you arrive, at check in, a newly installed fountain greets guests and the super friendly staff hands you a glass of champagne.

Now that’s what I call VIP service!

Some of the new features at the Islander Resort include beach cabanas- a personal favorite; an outdoor game area offers shuffleboard, ping pong, a basketball court, sand volleyball court, and a new restaurant, Elements opening soon, will offer elegant dinning with fresh caught seafood. Two more additions include a butterfly garden and a children’s splash pad with a giant purple octopus to cool off.

Renovations include Florida Keys inspired upgrades to all guest rooms and an unrivaled collection of premier suites – including six that are individually themed.

Massage services are now available which I highly recommend, I had a ninety minute Swedish massage and it was amazing!

There are so many activities to do at the resort, including a variety of waters sports and even a fishing pier, you really do not have to leave the resort, although there is plenty of shopping and things to do around the town of Islamorada.

The Islander Resort is perfect for a destination wedding and honeymoon- no passport required for this tropical paradise.

Best of all, The Florida Keys is just a short plane ride away, or make it a road trip.

Let’s face it: Cookie is the new Cake, and the macaron is that cookie.

I’m not talking about just any old chocolate chunk, bland cookie. I’m talking about a cookie that’s a work of delicate art in its own right…the macaron.

Macarons swept onto the social scene as America’s next classy gourmet treat while cupcakes slid out of popularity in 2014, leaving many to don the delectibles as ‘the new cupcake’. As cookies started becoming a new wedding trend, macarons quickly and daintifully climbed to the top of that category as the latest and greatest go-to alternative signature dessert.

The macaron (not to be confused with macaroon, which is an entirely different dessert) is held beautifully and dutifully in place by a layer of either ganache or cream and is about the size of a pill bottle cap. In contrast to traditional cookies, macarons are light and delicate and are often colored in varying hues of the rainbow. Pistachio green. Strawberry pink. Coffee tan. Vanilla beige… Often the brilliant colors represent the macaron flavor. Macarons are an icon of French confectionary expertise. Though originally of Italian origin, macarons made their way to France in the 1500s (via Catherine de Medici, some speculate). From humble beginnings amongst nuns who sold them to sustain an honest living to landmark patisseries putting their own spin on its original recipe, the macaron we know and love today witnessed a very prolific evolution.

Modern macarons became a popular sweet treat among the French elite, as they were advertised in magazines like Elle, juxtaposed with jewelry and other fine wares. It is perhaps at this point, the image of macarons as the classy dessert became imprinted into minds across the Francophone and Anglophone worlds.

Only recently have macarons begun to gain popularity among American consumers and in Virginia specifically, thanks to chefs like Elena Hocking with Macaron Tart. Having recently traveled to Paris, France only a week ago, I was eager to explore the Virginian take on this Parisian staple sweet treat.

As an alternative to the traditional wedding cake, macaron displays are becoming increasingly popular in the Commonwealth, and for good reasons. Macarons leave less mess, as there are no excess gobs of icing to deal with staining the carpets and slicing isn’t an issue. Macarons offer the opportunity for better portion control, and can even double as wedding favors for guests. Also, macarons hold their shape…a huge relief for anyone who has ever had to struggle with maintaining wedding cake integrity during transport.

Elena Hocking would agree. As the President of Macaron Tart, a patisserie (the French word for a cake and pastry shop) in Virginia Beach, Hocking tells me that a lot of her business comes from catering bridal showers and providing macarons for weddings. Macaron Tart also provides tarts that can be purchased for buffet- style menus. Elena discusses the versatility of macarons as a wedding component:

“Macarons can be used as an alternative in traditional cake options or they can be a part of the gift giving to guests (doubling) as favors or as a modern option for the dessert display or buffet.”

Hocking has found a rising niche need within the wedding catering arena, and that is a desire for the real deal macaron experience. Macaron Tart delivers that full experience, offering both high tea and bridal party hosting at their Virginia Beach location. Brides-to-be are invited to celebrate their bridal gathering at their location for an informal or formal celebration. Her business offers bridal parties and classes as well; an opportunity for confectionary fun and camaraderie before the big day.

“I found a growing need for couples looking for authentic macarons and are happy to have found Macaron Tart.”

We have the perfect preview of wedding dresses that will make you look like you stepped right out of a fairy tale by Chic Nostalgia available locally at Sixpence Bridal in Richmond, Va.

Chic Nostalgia is a unique designer bridal collection that was established in 2009 under chief designer, Amber He. Amber embodies the character and spirit of Chic Nostalgia with her free and creative spirit, making her wedding dresses refreshing and one-of-a-kind.

The brand was created from a passion to combine classic silhouettes with contemporary designs, allowing every bride to be modern and chic, yet timelessly beautiful. The excellent design and craftsmanship, using the finest of fabrics, will make your wedding dress as beautiful as possible. The meticulous hand-beading, and distinctive laces create a look and feel of luxury- without the splurge.

These collections are available the world over and new designs are showcased yearly at international bridal markets in New York, Chicago, Atlanta,Barcelona and Milano.

You will see some of these gorgeous dresses on the runway, not to mention get your wedding planned by the time you leave this show!

If you are planning a wedding in Roanoke Virginia, Richmond Virginia, Fredericksburg/Northern Virginia, The Shenandoah Valley, Coastal Virginia or in Charlottesville Va, we can help with your wedding planning and ideas.